How to Dial In "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" by Culture Club - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me"
Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.
Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning
Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.
On your amp, these numbers won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
From Kissing to Be Clever (1982). Kissing to Be Clever is the debut album by the English band Culture Club, released on 8 October 1982 in the United Kingdom. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Fender Standard Stratocaster through a Vox AC30 C2, the nearest rig we use for Culture Club's other songs, stands in. Keep the amp clean, just at the edge of breakup, and use the neck and middle pickups together. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" Tone
What guitar did Culture Club use on "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me"?
The guitar on "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" (released 1982) isn't documented; the Fender Standard Stratocaster above gets the sound. Pickup selector: neck + middle (position 2) on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 2, Bass 5, Mid 5, Treble 6, Presence 4, Volume 6. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale; match them on your amp first, then nudge to taste. ToneMirror can translate these positions for whatever amp you actually own.
Can I play "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" tone on a Katana, a Helix, a tube combo, or anything else. The translation accounts for EQ curve, gain structure, and pickup type so the result actually sounds like the record, not just the same knob numbers on different gear.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" by Culture Club are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.